The Dodgers signed outfielder Brian Giles to a minor league deal, reports MLB.com's Ken Gurnick. In a pair of tweets, ESPN's Buster Olney reports that Giles would get a $550K base salary with another $200K in performance bonuses. If the Dodgers aren't going to keep him on the roster at the end of Spring Training, he can ask for his release. Giles will compete for a fifth outfielder or pinch-hitter role.
Giles, 39, hit .191/.277/.271 in 253 plate appearances for the Padres last year, struggling defensively as well. His season ended in June with a knee injury. Giles had a strong season in 2008 - his .398 OBP ranked sixth in the league. Former Padres GM Kevin Towers picked up his $9MM option for '09, despite the outfielder's off-the-field concerns.
Interesting note from Gurnick – "Giles nearly was general manager Ned Colletti's first acquisition after he took over the Dodgers in the winter of 2005, but the San Diego native re-signed with the Padres and Colletti turned to shortstop Rafael Furcal." This time around Giles reportedly drew interest from eight to ten teams, including the Yankees and Reds.
Awful on defense and offense.
Dodgers could and should have done better.
we r taking shots on cheap guys who r low risk/high reward which is exactly what we should be doing-and besides brian giles can be bigger power threat off the bench for us then brad ausmus doug mientkiewicz jamey carroll and reed johnson combined!-a power bat off the bench is a need and we r taking a shot!-dodgers are having a good month and i want wang next!
Giles might be a great pickup for a pinch hitter. He can draw a walk, and still does not strike out easily. I don’t think we were looking for another outfielder actually… We may have scored a good PH for 2010 here. I like the signing.
Giles might be a great pickup for a pinch hitter. He can draw a walk, and still does not strike out easily. I don’t think we were looking for another outfielder actually… We may have scored a good PH for 2010 here. I like the signing.
On Glebb’s note, he also has a miserable OBP.
Why?
Wow. Probably now the Padres are going to use Hairston and Hairston JR. in the outfield and will deal with saved money to sign a RF,CF, or LF.
I’m not sure what your point is. Giles was never going to come back to SD anyways so it’s not like there is any ‘money saved’.
yeah. I agree when did the Padres trade him to the Dodgers? Never. But this is actually an Interesting signing because Brian Giles had one bad year; 2009, and if he can prove health, he can be a valuable pinch hitter. I don’t see him playing in the field due to his defense and the recent Reed Johnson signing (Reed Johnson is the 4th outfielder), but I suppose his playing time will come when the Dodgers face AL teams in the AL ballpark (as a DH) and Pinch Hitting Primarily. Possibly a 5th Outfielder but that is what Alfredo Amezaga is for. Still, a good signing though. I love the signing.
Padres are done until Spring Training.
Lefty off the bench. They’re through.
Almost signed in 2005? Yeah he was good then.
Come on Neddy, sign Marcus Giles too!
The Dodgers have a ton of competition for the end of the rotation and 4th/maybe 5th outfielder, not bad considering how most thought they would just stand pat.
this makes me happy
Freddy Sanchez and Aubrey Huff make me happy.
why? just why do we sign brian giles?
Because we are going to trade Andre Ethier for a middling A ball player and insert Giles into the clean up spot.
i wouldnt put it past em.
661 Dodgerblue why would we trade ethier away if we just signed him to a 2 year deal!
i believe this was meant as sarcasm.. could be wrong but pretty sure i’m right considering ethiers only gonna get better and giles was only signed to a minor league deal
Really?
Why would the Dodgers trade Andre Eithier? Probably to a contender for a stud. But for one thing, never put Brian Giles in the clean up spot. The lineup should be like this:
Rafael Furcal
Ronnie Belliard
Matt Kemp
Manny Rameriez
Andre Ethier
James Loney
Russel Martin
Brian Giles
Pitcher
dude… sarcasm. It isnt that hard to figure out…
dude… sarcasm. It isnt that hard to figure out…
so you’re saying Brian Giles should start over Casey Blake..??
Come on bud… pull yourself together.
Why do people not catch sarcasm? Anyway, I’d switch Martin and Belliard, and where the hell is Giles playing in this situation, 3B?
Why would the Dodgers trade Andre Eithier? Probably to a contender for a stud. But for one thing, never put Brian Giles in the clean up spot. The lineup should be like this:
Rafael Furcal
Ronnie Belliard
Matt Kemp
Manny Rameriez
Andre Ethier
James Loney
Russel Martin
Brian Giles
Pitcher
One word, three syllables: Sarcasm O_O
One word, three syllables: Sarcasm O_O
Giles had a pretty solid career, age and injury has caught up with him but if you read the terms of the contract all it boils down to is a spring training invitation. The Dodgers will take a look at him and see if he is washed up or if he can help the team. If he does not make the team he will ask for his release.
awful signing why would the dodgers want that guy we already have reed johnson! and if he’s going to compete for the pinch-hit role we already have doug mientcawicz or whatever his last name is as the lefty pinch-hitter
Giles could at the very least offer some pop off the bench. And plus, we only signed him for $550k, with a MAXIMUM earning of $750k with incentives. If he can provide decent pop off the bench as a pinch-hitter (which is what we signed him to compete for). That isn’t an awful signing, and is meant to be treated for what it is – a minor deal that helps provide more depth. Nothing more.
Sheesh people need to not overreact.
I think saying he has pop is an overreaction.
Giles could at the very least offer some pop off the bench. And plus, we only signed him for $550k, with a MAXIMUM earning of $750k with incentives. If he can provide decent pop off the bench as a pinch-hitter (which is what we signed him to compete for). That isn’t an awful signing, and is meant to be treated for what it is – a minor deal that helps provide more depth. Nothing more.
Sheesh people need to not overreact.
its a minor league deal. meh…
Giles 136 OPS+ is 15th among active players. His .400 career OBP is 10th among active players. His Career .502 SLG (38th)and .902 OPS (22nd) is mighty impressive considering he played his last 6 seasons in Petco Park, the worst hitters park in the game.
In 2009 he was injured on April 17th and continued to play through it until June.
In 2008 he hit .306/.398/.456/.854. Anyone that can hit like that in Petco is worth a flyer to see if he recovered from his injury.
Great signing by the Dodgers.
i really hope colletti’s stockpiling all these minor league deals in hopes to pull off a trade for a solid starter
This is a good signing because the dodgers would have had to deal with a all righty bench and now comes giles with a left handed power bat off the bench. He made a mistake but didnt manny, arod, tiger woods, mark mcquire etc. and now the clouds cleared up for them…All of this is in the past so leave it be and continue on.
This is a good signing because the dodgers would have had to deal with a all righty bench and now comes giles with a left handed power bat off the bench. He made a mistake but didnt manny, arod, tiger woods, mark mcquire etc. and now the clouds cleared up for them…All of this is in the past so leave it be and continue on.
Mientkiewicz…we have him as a lefty already off our bench. We weren’t going to have an all-righty bench. But Giles does present an opportunity for more power than Mientkiewicz.
i was around when giles was in high school at granite hills out in el cajon, and him and his brother were nicknamed the ‘roid brothers’. they were both juicing since high school. giles lost his power once the steroid stuff started getting serious.
Who is Brian Giles? I’ll try Baseball players who i thought were dead for $600 Alex.